Harold Edgar Raines

Harold Edgar Raines was born August 25, 1926, eldest of three sons to Hoyt and Lillian Dudley Raines, in Memphis, TN. He passed to his Heavenly Home on June 26, 2025.
How do you sum up in a few paragraphs 99 years of a extraordinary, well lived life? Harold was widely known and loved in Marshall for his spirit of volunteerism, willingness and skill as a leader, and his sweet, fun countenance. He loved hunting, fishing, camping, building and carpentry, art and decorating, traveling, music, LSU and Saints sports, friends, family, and Jesus.
As a boy the Depression years caused his dad to lose their General Mercantile store and home in Memphis. They moved to Weirgate, TX where his maternal "Papaw" was the lumber mill town foreman. He spoke with so much love of these times and there learned skills of woodsmanship, farming, engineering, and building. He learned to be a young man of integrity and exemplified this throughout his life. His Papaw was a Scoutmaster and Harold was in his Troop. They once camped their way in a school bus to Washington, D.C.. Harold's family later moved to Shreveport, LA where he graduated from Fair Park High School. There he was Captain of ROTC. At age 17, Harold joined the Navy and became a Signalman on a subchaser during WWII. Upon his return, Harold attended Centenary College and Louisiana Tech where he majored in Geology and joined Kappa Sigman Fraternity. Harold was called up from Reserves to return to service in the Korean War. He served on Admiral Espy's staff during the historic Battle of Enchon.
After returning to Shreveport, Harold went into banking and in 1952 met a striking beauty, Esther Westmoreland, whom he charmed and married in 1954. They had over 50 years of such a great life together and had two daughters, Carole and Kathy that could not have had a happier childhood, or more precious Godly parents.
By 1963 the Raines family moved to Marshall and Harold worked for over 30 years at Marshall Mill and Elevator, becoming Sales Manager there. He became involved in so many organizations, boards, and projects it would be difficult to list them all. He loved and served to his fullest at First Methodist Church. He was a Sunday School teacher, a Stephens Minister, on Board of Trustees, and Scoutmaster of Troop 239 for near 30 years. He helped many Scouters to achieve Eagle ranks and was awarded the highest honor of Silver Beaver.
His record of volunteerism led him to once be named Marshall Citizen of the Year. Just a few of Harold's activities and awards include District Governor of Lions Club, Rotary Club, Chambers of Commerce, Historical Society, Civic Center Tech Director, Wonderland of Lights and Fine Arts Festivities chair, Twelve Way Foundation Board, Arts Council, Caddo Lake Preservation Board, and many more.
After the loss of his wife Ester, Harold married Betty Monigold and they continued to enjoy being very active in Church and Civic events together until her passing.
Harold was preceded in Death by his parents Hoyt and Lillian Raines, brothers Charles and Quinton, wife Esther, grandson Brandon Collier, and son-in-law Johnny Collier. Also, preceding him was his Wife Betty. He is survived by his daughters Carole Raines Collier and Kathy Raines Gillespie, grandchildren, Melissa Collier Gepford and husband Bill, Christi Collier, Randell Collier, and great grandsons, Kobe, Caleb, and Finnegan. Also survived by his sister-in-law Annette Bell, and a host of beloved nieces and nephews.
There will be Visitation at The Cammack Family Directors of Funerals - Marshall on Thursday, July 3rd at 10:00 am; followed by a Life Celebration at 11:00 am. After a family bereavement lunch, he will be interred next to his beloved Esther at Woodley Cemetery in Elysian Fields.